Valve operating mechanism



Nov. 13, 1934. I C, s. BURNETT 1,980,379

VALVE OPERATING MECHANI SM Filed July 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (6) l CQ" A llllllnllll' /3' E all '4 i Il ll/Llvlllll/glll/A .L y d* 7 6 f ,/lll

r i l as i gli i l lf l 1 1 #s *f K ,if 'M g j! l /N VE N TOR.. Charles, 5B1/waff l BY.

\ H TTORNEY.

NOV. 13, 1934. Q 5 BURNETT 1,980,379

VALVE OPERATING MEGHANISM Filed July 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 [NVENTOR H 'TTORNE'Y Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED sTATrtsl PATENT oFlflcE 7 claims.

(Cl. 12S-90) (Granted under the act of AMarch 3, 1883, as

amended April 30,1928; 370 O. G. 757) This invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a valve operating mechanism for engines of the internal combustion type and more particularly it is directed t a governor control mechanism for regulating the time of the intake valves thereof.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a governor control mechanism including an auxiliary shaft having a valve actuating cam mounted thereon for engines of the internal combustion type to vary the time of closing of the intake valves thereof in accordance with the speed of the driving mechanism of the engine without regard to the load carried by the driving mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to effect the last mentioned object without increasing or decreasing the lift of the valve.

Another object is to provide a governor control mechanism which is adapted to vary the duration of the intake period of internal combustion engines as a function of the engine speed.

An important object is to make it possible and practicable, to delay the time of closing the intake valves of internal combustion engines using gas fuel for the purpose of increasing volumetric eiliciency.

The governor control mechanism including the auxiliary shaft having an actuating cam mounted thereon is subject to being used in any device wherein intake and exhaust valves are employed and to operate either the intake or exhaust valves whether their cams are mounted on Separate shafts or on the same shaft but is primarily provided for operating the intake valves of internal combustion engines.

'I'he present invention comprises generally a speed governor mounted .on an auxiliary cam shaft including an actuating cam for jthe intake valves of internal combustion engines in such a lmanner that as the speed of the engine fluctuates it varies the timing of the auxiliary actuating cam to control the time of closing of the intake valves at high speeds thus improving the .volumetric eficiency of the engine.

In order that Amy invention may be Aunderstood vreference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the speciiication in which llike parts are indicated by similar reference characters and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view partly in ele-y vation of one-form of engineembodying an auxiliary cam shaft of my invention for controlling the time of closing the intake valve of the engine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a gear drive used in carrying out my invention including my improved valve operating mechanism mounted 0n the auxiliary cam shaft; f

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view thereof taken on line 4-4 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View 0f the governor control mechanism taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of a post member usedin the control mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view thereof illustrating the manner in which the post member is operated; and y Y Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of post vmember secured to a member of my improved control mechanism.

VIn the illustrated embodiment characterizing my invention A indicates generally'an engine of the internal vcombustion type which in the present illustration isshown as provided -with a cyl.- yinder (1) and separate cam shafts (2) and (3) having actuating cams (4) and (5) mounted thereon for operating the intake and exhaust valves (6) and (7) respectively. It is to be understood however, that I do not limit myself either as to 4the number of cylinders jor the type of engine and further to whether the vintakeanl exhaust valves of the engine are mounted on separate cam shafts -or on the same shaft `in which `I ny invention may be employed, said invention being well adapted for engines yof substantially any type, as well as the `-puppet Valve type, at present illustrated zby vmaking suitable modifications and changes in locationof elements -as -Willjbe understood by those skilled in the art.

The cylinder (l) is provided -with a pistonr (.8.)

pivotally connected by the pitman (9) tothe crank shaft (10) which is secured to the power vend of the lower portion (1.4) of the push y.rod

(12) is provided witha followerheadd) which .is adapted to ride on the actuating Vcam .(4) .provided onthe regular intake cam-shaft (.2).

The 4auxiliary shaft (17) is provided with an the intermediary of gears (21), (22) and a ring gear (23) respectively. 4An intermediate non-metallic idler gear, if desired,` may be provided between certainof said gears to cause a more silent operation thereof.

The auxiliary cam-shaft (17) carries an inte-y gral hub and flange member (24)` which is fixably secured thereto by a key (25). The hub portion of the member (24) has the ring gear (23) rotatably mounted thereon and is made longer than the width of the ring gear (23) to provide an extending portion (26) containing a screw threaded well (27) on diametrically opposite sides thereof for receiving a threaded stem (28) of postsy (29), which are screw-threaded in the wells (27) and adapted to be moved vertically up and down therein. In order to hold the ring gear (23) in proper position on the member (24) and to provide a guide for the posts (29), a collar (30) containing an aperture (31) on opposite sides thereof,r in alignment with the wells (27) of the member (24) is mounted on the projecting portion (26) of the member (24).

The heads (32) of the posts (29) are provided with gearteeth (33) which extend around a por'- tion of the outer periphery thereof as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The gear teeth (33) of the posts (29) are adapted to mesh with rack teeth (34))provided on the upper and lower portion of the ring gear (23) and are so formed and arranged in spaced relation to each other as to properly engage the rack teeth (34) of the ring gear when the posts (29) are rotated and moved longitudinally in the wells (27). A cap '(35) provided with an outwardly projecting portion (36) is mounted on each of said posts (29). The projecting portion (36) of the posts (29) are connected to links (37) by any suitable means such as by a ball and socket member (38). The links (37) are in turn connectedA to arms (39) of a governor (40) in any suitable vmanner. such as by a ball and socket member (41). One end of the arms (39) of the governor (40) is pivotally `'connected' to a clamp fixably secured to the auxiliary cam-shaftu') while each of thefree ends of the `arms (39) is provided with a governor ball I(42) containing a locking member (43) in the form of a projecting tooth which is adapted to `meshwith teeth (44) provided on the upper. and

lower' portion near the periphery of the ring gear (23) for taking up the shock on the goverfnor arms (39) due to sudden stopping or starting of the engine or when the engine is suddenly accelerated lor decelerated when runni-ng at low speeds. In order to retract the various parts of the governor control mechanism to normal posijtion after the force of the governal balls V(42) haverelaxed at low speeds or at rest, a helical spring (45) is connected between each of the arms (39) of the governor (40) and the member (24).

.Themodified form of post (29') illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings, which may be used in duced end portion (46) and isrotatably mounted on the collar (30') by means of a cap screw (47) which screws into a tapped hole provided in the reduced end portion (46). I'he head (32') of the post (29') is provided with gear teeth (33') which extend in stepped formation around a portion of the outer periphery of the post. Each of the teeth (33') have a declining pitch with respect to the others for engaging the` rack teeth (34) of the ring gear (23) at different points thereof when the p'ostis rotated by the governor (40),.

In operation, my device functions as follows: As the speed of the engine fluctuates the governor (40) pulls on the links (37 which in turn pull on the projecting portion (36) of the caps (35) provided on the posts (29) or (29') thereby rotating the posts. The gear teeth (33) of the posts meshing with the rack teeth (34) of the ring gear (23) causes the ring gear to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow. This` It will thus be seen that I have provided a highly novel, simple and eicient form of valve operating mechanism that is well adapted for all the purposes designated. Even though I have herein shown and described myr device as comprising certain structural elements it is neverthelessto be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, which broadly comprises the combination of a regular cam and'cam-shaft for actuating a valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and camshaft, a hub and angemember flxably mounted on said auxiliary shaft, a screw-threaded well provided on each side of said hub and flange member, an adjustable gear rotatably mounted on said hub and flange member, a collar mounted on said hub and flange member adjacent said adjustable gear, apertures provided in said collar in alignment with the said wells of said hub and flange member, said adjustable gear controlled by a ball governor mounted on said auxiliary cam and connected by a linkage which varies the timing of the auxiliary cam to retard it with an increase of speed, said linkage comprising a post member mounted in each of said aligned apertures of said collar and wells of said hub and flange member, a cap provided with an outwardly projecting portion provided on each of said post members, spaced gear teeth provided on each of said post members adapted to mesh with rack teeth provided on said adjustable gear, links connecting said post members to said ball governor, one end of said links swivelly connected to the projecting portion of the caps of said post mem.- bers andthe other end thereof swivelly connected to arms of said ball governor, spring-means for returning said valve controlling device to normal inoperative position connected between the said arms of the ball governor andsaid collar, and means lon the balls of said governor and the said adjustable gear for detachably holding said ball governor in locked position, said locking means comprising a projecting tooth on the balls of said governor and teeth on said adjustable gear.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful isz- 1. In a valve controlling device, the combina- 'tion of a regular cam and cam-shaft for actuatvso loo

iis

ing the valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and cam-shaft driven by the regular cam-shaft through an adjustable gear which is controlled by a speed governor mounted on the auxiliary shaft and connected by a linkage which varies the timing of the auxiliary cam to retard it with an increase in speed.

2. In a valve controlling device, the combination of a regular cam and cam-shaft for actuating the valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and cam-shaft driven by the regular cam-shaft through an adjustable gear which is controlled by a speed governor mounted on the auxiliary shaft and connected by a linkage which varies the timing of the auxiliary cam to retard it with an increase in speed, and means for returning said valve controlling device to normal inoperative position.

3. In a Valve controlling device, the combination of a regular cam and cam-shaft for actuating the valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and cam-shaft driven by the regular cam-shaft through an adjustable gear which is controlled by a speed governor mounted on the auxiliary shaft and connected by a linkage which varies the timing of the auxiliary cam to retard it with an increase in speed, means for returning said valve controlling device to normal inoperative position, and means for detachably locking said speed governor to said adjustable gear.

4. In a valve controlling device, the combination of a regular cam and cam-shaft for actuating the valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and camshaft, a hub and flange member xably mounted on said auxiliary cam-shaft, said auxiliary camshaft driven by said regular cam-shaft through an adjustable gear rotatably mounted on said hub and flange member and controlled by a speed governor xably mounted on the auxiliary cam-shaft, said speed governor connected by a linkage Which varies the timing of the auxiliary cam to retard it with an increase in speed, said linkage comprising post members rotatably mounted on said hub and liange member and provided with gear teeth for meshing with rack teeth provided on said adjustable gear and links connecting said speed governor to said post members.

5. In a valve controlling device, the combination of a regular cam and cam-shaft for actuating the valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and cam-shaft, a hub and flange member fixably mounted on said auxiliary cam-shaft, wells provided in said hub and flange member, an adjustable gear and collar mounted on said hub and flange member, screw threaded post members movably mounted on said collar and adapted to project into said wells, spaced gear teeth provided on a portion of the periphery of said post members, a cap including a projecting portion on the upper end of each of said post members, said adjustable gear rotatably mounted on said hub and flange members and a speed governor mounted on said auxiliary cam-shaft for controlling said adjustable gear and connected by links to the said projecting portion of said post members, the said gear teeth of said post members meshing with rack teeth provided on said adjustable gear.

6. Ina valve controlling device, the combination of a regular cam and cam-shaft for actuating the valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and` cam-shaft, a hub and flange member fixably mounted on said auxiliary cam-shaft, said auxiliary cam-shaft driven by said regular cam-shaft through an adjustable gear provided with rack teeth and rotatably mounted on said hub and flange member and controlled by a speed governor xably mounted on the auxiliary cam-shaft, a collar mounted on said hub and flange member adjacent said adjustable gear, linkage connecting said speed governor which varies the timing of the auxiliary cam to retard it with an increase in speed, said linkage comprising screw-threaded post members rotatably mounted on said collar, hub and flange member and provided with gear teeth for meshing with the rack teeth of said adjustable gear, links connecting said speed governor to said post members, means for returning said valve controlling device to normal inoperative position and means for detachably locking said speed governor to said adjustable gear.

7. In a valve controlling device, the combination of a regular cam and cam-shaft for actuating the valve periodically, an auxiliary cam and camshaft, a hub and ange member xably mounted on said auxiliary cam-shaft, Wells provided in said hub and flange member, a post member movably mounted in each of said Wells, spaced gear teeth provided on a portion of the periphery of said post member, a cap including a projecting portion on the upper end of each of said post members, an adjustable gear rotatably mounted on said hub and ange member and controlled by a speed governor mounted on the auxiliary cam-shaft, said speed governor connected by links to the said projecting portion of the caps of said post members, and the said gear teeth of said post members meshing with rack teeth provided on said adjustable gear, means for returning said valve controlling device to normal inoperative position and means detachably locking said speed governor to said adjustable gear.

CHARLES S. BURNETT. 

